UFC on ESPN Cannonier vs Gastelum Odds, Predictions, Picks

• Once again former middleweight title challenger Kelvin Gastelum steps in as a replacement in a UFC main event – this time to take on top-5 contender Jared Cannonier. Gastelum stepped in on short notice in his last fight when he took on former champion Robert Whittaker. In both cases, Gastelum replaced Paulo Costa
• UFC Hall of Famer Clay Guida takes on one of MMA’s hottest prospects in Olympic wrestling silver medalist Mark Madsen in the co-main event this Saturday
• Bantamweights Trevin Jones and Saidyokub Kakhramonov both step in as replacements to take on each other in the fight that will kick off the main card at 8 PM EST

UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs Gastelum Odds

The odds for this match are provided by DraftKings sportsbook. Click on the odds below to head to DraftKings and place a bet.

UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs Gastelum Picks

Jared Gastelum vs Kelvin Gastelum – Middleweight Division

Our Pick: Kelvin Gastelum (+135)

Clay Guida vs Mark Madsen – Lightweight Division

Our Pick: Mark Madsen (-165)

Chase Sherman vs Parker Porter – Heavyweight Division

Our Pick: Chase Sherman (-190)

Vinc Pichel vs Austin Hubbard – Lightweight Division

Our Pick: Vinc Pichel (-110)

Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval – Flyweight Division

Our Pick: Brandon Royval (+145)

Trevin Jones vs Saidyokub Kakhramonov – Bantamweight Division

Our Pick: Saidyokub Kakhramonov

How to Watch UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs Gastelum

Jared Cannonier vs Kelvin Gastelum Middleweight Division

Jared “The Killa Gorilla” Cannonier

Many seem to forget that Jared Cannonier actually spent much of his time in the UFC competing in the light heavyweight division where he had mixed success.

His time at 205-pounds ended with back-to-back losses to Jan Blachowicz and Dominick Reyes.

Cannonier made the move down to the middleweight division in 2018 and took on David Branch, whom he would TKO in the second round of their UFC 230 bout.

Cannonier would win two more via TKO – stretching his winning streak to three. He defeated former middleweight GOAT Anderson Silva via first-round TKO and followed that with a second-round TKO over Jack Hermansson.

In what has been his biggest test to date, Cannonier most recently took on the former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker last October at UFC 254.

In what was probably a more one-sided contest than people expected, Cannonier was simply outclassed by the former champion, and his winning streak was snapped with unanimous decision loss to Whittaker.

He has yet to fight in 2021 due to recovering from a broken arm.

Born in Dallas, Texas, Cannonier trains out of Arizona with the MMA LAB. He also spends time working on his grappling skills with Legacy Jiu Jitsu Alaska.

Cannonier has been competing since 2011 and is currently ranked as the third-best middleweight in the division. He has four post-fight bonuses to his name.

Jared Cannonier is eight-years older than Kelvin Gastelum but will have a significant six-inch reach advantage in the fight Saturday.

Kelvin Gastelum

Since his interim-title, fight of the year loss to Israel Adesanya back in 2019, Kelvin Gastelum has struggled to remain in the upper echelon of the UFC middleweight division.

The loss to Adesanya would be his first of three in a row, as he went on to lose a split-decision to Darren Till and was then submitted by Jack Hermansson.

Earlier this year, at UFC 258, Gastelum got a much-needed win over Ian Heinisch in the form of a unanimous decision.

He then made the most of an opportunity when Paulo Costa dropped out of a fight with former champion Robert Whittaker and Gastelum stepped in.

Gastelum was scheduled to face Whittaker once before for the undisputed title in 2018. However, Whittaker had to pull out on the day of the fight due to injury.

The two would go toe-to-toe this past April, headlining their Fight Night card. The two fought to a five-round decision with Whittaker being declared the winner. The fight took home fight of the night honors.

Like Cannonier, Gastelum spends his time training in Arizona. He works out with Kings MMA as well as with Yuma United MMA.

He boasts NJCAA wrestling credentials as well as a black belt in 10th Planet jiu-jitsu under Brian Beaumont.

Gastelum is a former Ultimate Fighter winner and has been competing since 2010. He is currently ranked as number-nine in the UFC middleweight division.

He will stand two-inches shorter than his opponent.

Clay Guida vs Mark Madsen Lightweight Division

Clay “The Carpenter” Guida

Yes – Clay Guida is still an active competitor for the UFC!

The oldest fighter on this main card, Guida has been fighting for the UFC promotion since 2006 when he debuted against Justin James (and won) at UFC 64.

He has mixed his time between the lightweight and featherweight divisions and, most recently, has opted to move back into the 155-pound role.

Guida has had some of the most memorable fights in UFC history but has had overall mixed success in the octagon. He has a promotional record of 16-14 and has nine post-fight bonuses to his name.

Guida returned to the lightweight division in 2017 and won back-to-back fights before being submitted by Charles Oliveira.

He then defeated former champion BJ Penn in 2019 before dropping back-to-back losses to Jim Miller and Bobby Green.

Most recently, Guida took on Michael Johnson this past February. The two fought to a third-round judges decision that was unanimously awarded to Clay Guida.

A former pupil of the Jackson-Wink Academy, the 39-year-old now spends his time training with Team Alpha Male in California.

He has been competing in MMA since 2003, he was the inaugural Strikeforce lightweight champion, which he won back in 2006.

Guida will enter the cage Saturday night standing one-inch shorter than his opponent. He will also be at a two-inch reach disadvantage.

Mark “The Olympian” Madsen

Still undefeated in his MMA career, former Olympic wrestler Mark Madsen looks to win his third UFC fight in a row this Saturday.

Debuting for the promotion in 2019, Madsen made easy work of his opponent Danilo Bellurado, whom he knocked out in the first round.

His most recent fight – coming against Austin Hubbard – took place last March at UFC 248. The two fought to a judge’s decision and Madsen was awarded the unanimous victory.

Born in Denmark, Madsen trains with his coach (and former UFC welterweight) Martin Kampmann at both Xtreme Couture and his own gym, Team Olympian.

Madsen competed in the 2016 Olympic games in Brazil, winning a silver medal in greco-roman wrestling. He also holds three silver medals and a bronze at the World Championship level.

He is three-years younger than Clay Guida but hasn’t stepped foot into the octagon in over one year.

Chase Sherman vs Parker Porter Heavyweight Division

Chase “The Vanilla Gorilla” Sherman

Following a three-fight losing streak that included two knockout losses, Chase Sherman found himself out of the UFC and back into the regional circuit.

Sherman then began fighting for the Island Fights promotion and quickly racked up three TKO victories in a row – all within the first or second rounds.

The heavyweight fighter was then granted his return to the UFC in 2020 and he continued his winning streak with a second-round TKO victory over Ike Villanueva last May.

Most recently, Chase Sherman took on former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski. The two fought to a three-round decision this past April with Arlovski ultimately being awarded the victory.

Born in Mississippi, Chase Sherman trains out of his home state with Alan Belcher MMA and also spends time with Club/Jackson-Wink MMA.

Sherman has been competing in mixed martial arts since 2014 and holds a purple belt in kickboxing under Duke Roufus as well as a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

He is a former BKFC heavyweight champion.

Sherman will enter the octagon Saturday night with a four-inch height advantage as well as a three-inch reach advantage over his opponent.

Parker Porter

Saturday night will mark just the third UFC appearance for Parker Porter.

Porter debuted for the promotion last August at UFC 252 where he took on Chris Daukaus. Porter would lose the bout via TKO with just 30-seconds left in the first round.

He would rebound in his next fight, earning his first octagon win over Josh Parisian last November. Porter won the bout via unanimous decision.

Parker Porter trains in his home state of Connecticut at Thornton’s MMA. He currently holds the rank of brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Competing since 2007, Porter is a former Reality Fighting heavyweight champion.

He is five years older than Chase Sherman.

Vinc Pichel vs Austin Hubbard Lightweight Division

Vinc “From Hell” Pichel

A former Ultimate Fighter series participant, Vinc Pichel has been competing for the UFC since 2021. During that time, Pichel has amassed a promotional record of six wins and two losses.

After losing his debut, Pichel put together four straight wins – a streak that included a first-round knockout of Damien Brown.

The winning streak was snapped in 2018 when Pichel was submitted by Gregor Gillespie.

However, since the loss to Gillespie, Pichel has put more wins together, winning back-to-back unanimous decision victories over Roosevelt Roberts and, most recently, Jim Miller at UFC 252 last August.

Pichel has not fought since.

Born in California, Vinc Pichel has been competing since 2009.

He splits his time working with the Peterson Grapplers Team as well as with the Sugarfoot Training Center.

He holds the rank of black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Pichel will have a one-inch reach advantage over his opponent this weekend.

Austin “Thud” Hubbard

Since joining the UFC roster in 2019, Austin Hubbard has gone 3-3.

He has had neither a winning or losing streak since joining the UFC – instead trading wins and losses.

He lost his debut to Davi Ramos but bounced back with a win over Kyle Prepolic. He then lost to Mark Madsen before bouncing back to defeat Max Rohskopf. He was then submitted by Joe Solecki.

His most recent bout took place this past April when he took on Dakota Bush. Hubbard was awarded with the unanimous decision victory.
Born in Illinois, Hubbard trains out of Colorado with the Elevation Fight Team.

He has been competing since 2015 and is a former LFA lightweight champion.

Austin Hubbard is nine-years younger than his opponent Vinc Pichel.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval – Flyweight Division

Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja

Alexandre Pantoja made his UFC debut in 2017, earning a split-decision win over Eric Shelton.

Since then, Pantoja has put together a promotional record of 7-3 and even secured a three-fight winning streak at one point over some of the division’s best in Brandon Moreno, Ulka Sasaki, and Wilson Reis.

Pantoja is just 1-1 over his last two fights. Last July, he dropped a unanimous decision to Askar Askarov.

However, he followed that loss with a unanimous decision win of his own over rising contender Manel Kape this past February.

He has two performance bonuses over his UFC career thus far.

The Brazilian fighter was a student of the Black House gym but now spends his time training with American Top Team in Florida.

He has 11-fights more experience in the MMA game than his opponent and has been fighting since 2007.

Pantoja is currently ranked as the third-best flyweight in the division.

Brandon “Raw Dawg” Royval

Brandon Royval began his UFc career just last year and started it with a bang.

He debuted against Tim Elliott last May and won the fight via second-round arm-triangle submission. The contest earned fight of the night honors.

Royval then took on Kai Kara-France last September at UFC 253 and earned another second-round submission win. The bout was also deemed fight of the night for the event.

In his most recent fight, which took place last November at UFC 255, Royval took on Brandon Moreno. Royval would lose the fight via TKO with just one-second left in the first round.

Moreno would ultimately go on to fight for and win the flyweight championship.

This Saturday will mark Royval’s first fight since the loss to Moreno and his first fight of 2021.

The American-born fighter trains with Factory X Muay Thai and has been fighting since 2012.

He is a former LFA flyweight champion and is currently ranked as the sixth-best flyweight in the UFC division.

Royval will enter the cage Saturday night with a four-inch reach advantage over his opponent.

Trevin Jones vs Saidyokub Kakhramonov Bantamweight Division

Trevin “5-Star” Jones

Trevin Jones will kick off the main card this Saturday and it will mark the third time that the southpaw fighter has stepped into the octagon.

Jones made his UFC debut last August. He took on Timur Valiev but the bout ultimately ended up as a no-contest.

He would fight again this past March at UFC 259. At this event, Jones took on Mario Bautista and went on to earn a TKO stoppage just 40-seconds into the second round.

Since his win over Bautista, Jones has had three fights cancelled. He initially was expected to face Mana Martinez this Saturday night as Jones was stepping in to replace Jesse Strader who pulled out of the bout.
However, Martinez was then forced off the card and Jones finds himself facing off against a last-minute replacement without much time in training camp.
Born in Louisiana, Trevin Jones trains with head coach Josh Santos and spends his time with the Vida BJJ gym.

With the exception of his no-contest, Jones heads into this fight Saturday riding a three-fight winning streak.

Saidyokub Kakhramonov

Saidyokub Kakhramonov is a UFC newcomer who is making his promotional debut this Saturday night.

Kakhramonov is currently riding a professional winning streak of two-fights in a row. He knocked out Askar Askar in under 40-seconds at HFC 42 and followed that with a second-round TKO win at CFFC 92.

Born in Uzbekistan, Kakhramonov trains out of California with the Team Oyama gym.

He is six-years younger than his opponent.